This easy smoked chicken breast recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Quick to prep and full of smoky flavor, it’s ideal when evenings run late and you need a fast, reliable main protein.
Over the years I’ve learned to cook chicken to temperature rather than to a set time. I use a Pit Boss Pro 1100 pellet grill, which is similar to a Traeger pellet grill. The pellet grill lets me set a low temperature with steady smoke—225°F is my go-to—so I can step away to prep sides or take a shower while the meat absorbs great smoky flavor.
Smoked Chicken Breast Ingredients:
- Chicken Breasts – Bone-in or boneless both work. You can also use thighs, wings, or other cuts.
- Olive Oil
- Johnny’s Seasoning Salt
- Lawry’s Garlic Salt
- Montreal Steak Seasoning
Any all-purpose seasoning blend will also work well on chicken and vegetables.
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How To Smoke A Chicken Breast:
1. Prep the chicken: Pat the breasts dry with paper towels and brush lightly with olive oil.
2. Season: Apply a dry rub using the seasonings listed above or your favorite chicken rub. You can also brine if you prefer—both dry and wet brines work.
3. Bring to room temperature: Let boneless breasts sit out for a short time before smoking; this helps them absorb smoke and cook more evenly.
4. Start the smoker: Preheat your pellet grill or smoker. I use mesquite pellets, but apple, cherry, pecan, or hickory are all great choices depending on the flavor you want.
I typically set my pellet grill to 225°F and use a low smoke setting. You can increase the temperature if you need to speed things up, but lower indirect heat usually gives juicier results with balanced smoke flavor.
This method works on any smoker or grill—Traeger, charcoal, gas, electric, or pellet. Cooking time will vary with smoker type, pellet flavor, and breast size, so adjust accordingly and consider using a water pan if your smoker runs hot or dry.
5. Smoke the chicken: Place breasts on the grill grates and smoke, flipping as needed so both sides cook evenly.
6. Check temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer to measure the thickest part of the breast. Chicken is safe and done at an internal temperature of 165°F.
7. Rest and serve: When the breasts reach 165°F, remove them, let them rest briefly, then serve and enjoy.
How Long To Cook Chicken Breast On Pit Boss
There’s no fixed time—smoke to temperature. At 225°F on a pellet grill, cook time typically runs around an hour but will vary with breast size and grill performance. Always use an internal thermometer and pull breasts at 165°F.
What To Serve Smoked Chicken Breast With:
Smoked appetizers: smoked cream cheese, smoked queso dip, smoked refried bean dip.
Smoked sides: smoked baked potatoes, smoked green bean casserole, smoked sweet potato casserole, smoked loaded cheesy potatoes, smoked deviled eggs, smoked loaded baked beans, creamy smoked macaroni and cheese.
Grilled sides: cheesy grilled asparagus, cheese-stuffed mushrooms, grilled loaded twice-baked potatoes, grilled corn on the cob, grilled zucchini, bacon-wrapped asparagus.
How do you store leftover smoked chicken breast
Store leftovers in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, freeze for up to three months—shredding before freezing makes it easy to reuse in other recipes. Vacuum sealing or using airtight freezer bags preserves quality best.
What To Do With Smoked Chicken Breasts:
Leftover smoked chicken is versatile. Use it for smoked chicken pot pie, chicken salad, smoked chicken noodle soup, casseroles, shredded chicken, fried rice, chicken chili, quesadillas, tacos, or stovetop casseroles.
Easy seasonings to change up smoked chicken
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Your favorite BBQ sauce
Alternate Pellet Flavors To Use
Try apple, cherry, pecan, or hickory pellets, or use wood chunks or chips for different smoke profiles that pair well with chicken.
What is your go-to way to make a delicious smoked chicken breast?
Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe
Equipment
- Pellet grill or smoker
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Johnny’s seasoning salt
- Lawry’s garlic salt
- Montreal steak seasoning
Instructions
- Remove chicken from the fridge, pat dry, and brush with olive oil.
- Season the breasts with your chosen dry rub or seasoning blend.
- Allow boneless breasts to come close to room temperature for more even smoking.
- Preheat the smoker and add pellets or wood of your choice. Set pellet grills to about 225°F for low-and-slow cooking.
- Place the breasts on the grill grates, smoke, and flip as needed for even cooking.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of the breast. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from the grill, let rest briefly, then serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Calories: 3 kcal • Fat: 0.3 g • Saturated fat: 0.05 g